Refectory table



Feb. 22, 1938. A. H. HQLLAND ET A1. 2,108,816

REFECTORY TABLE Filed Nov. 19, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 1' A. H. HOLLAND ET AL REFECTORY TABLE v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fied NOV. 21.9, 1934 ml N N Mu MUN. mmm J Rv RQ www3 "N, D T s m. A mm), m A n MKM.. www

Feb., 229 193.

- A. H. HOLLAND Er A. A 2108,36

' REFECTORY TABLE Filed Nov. 19, 19.34 4 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 22, 1938)4 A. H. HOLLAND ET AL REFECTORY TABLE Filed Nov. 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheffl 4 ALFRED H. HOLLAND HND Eoeafa-r H. HOLLAND APatented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES AT T 0F FIC E REFECTORMY TABLE Alfred H. Holland and Robert A. Holland, Win

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an article of furniture and more vespecially to an extension table Vequipped with movable extension leaves for ex 'tending the ,length of the table.

AIn vmany forms of extension tables heretofore used'the additional leaves have been inserted in 4the central lportion ofthe table, thereby making Vit necessary to make the end leaf portions in movable sections in order to accommodate the 10 'additional leaves. It is, therefore, an object of this 'invention to provide additional table leaves which are slidably mounted beneath the ends of thevmain table top and which may be withdrawn Vwhen it is desired to extend the length of the *"15 table.

VIt is a further object of this invention to provide an extensible leaf for a table, desk or the like, with means mounted on said leaf for automatically raising and holding the leaf ush with .20 the-top -portion of the table. Marinai means are also provided for releasing the extension leaf' so that it may again be inserted in a suitable recess disposedbeneath the end of the table top.

While this Vinvention is particularly adapted for 'x25 use on tables, it is to be understood that the f'principle is equally applicable to writing desks, "ironing boards, or in fact, to any article of furniture where a leaf is desired to be Withdrawn from extended position when not in use.

.Some of the objects of the invention having beenstated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the `accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric View of a table made n'35 in accordance with the invention;

'Figure2 is a top plan View of the table;

Figure `3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken --along line 3-3 in Figure 2 showing the table t leaf on one end in an extended position and the "ml-table leaf on the other end in a closed position;

Figure 4 is Va transverse sectional View taken along line 4--4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken lialong line 5-5 in Figure 2 showing one end of wthe recesses beneath the table for receiving a table leaf when in closed position;

Figure 6 is an isometric View of a portion of *an inverted table leaf support showing means for locking the support in elevated position;

'Figure 7 is a top plan View with portions broken 'away of a portion of a `table'with a modified .form of the invention applied thereto;

Figure' .is a longitudinal sectional view taken m55' along line 8-8 `irrFigure "7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the table leaf in closed position;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional View taken along line I -i in Figure '7;

Figure 1l is a detail sectional View taken along line iI-ii in Figure '7;

Figure 12 is a detail sectional View taken along line I2-l2 in Figure 7;

Figure 13 is an isometric view of one of the `wedges which is adapted to be mounted `on a table leaf support for holding the table leaf in extended position;

Figure 14 is an isometric View of a modified form of table leaf support which is somewhat similar to the form used in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive.

Referring more specically to the drawings, the numeral Iii denotes an extension table which is supported by legs il, l2, I3 and I. The upper ends of legs II and I2 are secured together by means of a transverse member i5, and the upper ends of legs i3 and I4 are likewise secured together by means of transverse member i5. A. similar longitudinal member Il is connected to the upper ends of legs I i and I3, whereas, member i8 connects the upper ends of legs i2 and I4. Suitable braces I9 are used to connect the members I5, It, I1 and I8 to each other, and these braces are also secured to the upper ends of legs II, I2, I3 and lli. Y

Fixedly mounted on top of members Il and Ill are filler members 25 and 25 respectively which, in turn, have secured to the upper side thereof a conventional table top 2l. By placing the ller members 25 and 26 beneath the central portion of the table top 2l, and cutting them shorter than the length of the table top, suitable recesses 28 and 28 are provided between the lower side of the table top and the upper side of members il andIS inclusive for the reception of the extension leaves when in closed position.

Transverse member I6 has suitable notches 3i) `cut therein (Fig. 3) in which are slidably mounted extension leaf supports 3l and 32. These supports are identical in all respects except support 32 is shown in the drawings as being opposite hand to support 3|, and, therefor-e, a description of one will suffice for the other, since the same elements of construction are used in both. Secured to the upper ends of members 3l and 32, by any suitable means such as screws 33 and 33a, Vis an extension leaf 34 which is shown in extended position in the right-hand portion of Figures l., 2 and 3. The left-hand end o-f supports 3l and '32 are slidably mounted in U-shaped stirrup members 35 and 36, said stirrup members being secured to the lower side of table top El by any suitable means such as screws 3'! and 323 respectively.

Secured in the left-hand end of each of supports 3| and 32 is a bracket 45 having an inclined portion 46 which is adapted to engage the bottom of U-shaped members 35 and 36 and raise the left-hand end of supports to a horizontal position when the leaf 34 is being drawn to an extended position. It should be noted that the left-hand en-d of supports 3| and 32 also have projections 41 integral there-with which limits the movement to the right of the leaf 34 when it has reached its proper position. n Figure 2 these projections are shown engaging the stirrups 35 and 36 when the leaf 34 is in extended position.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged inverted View of the right-hand end of support 3| with the wedge 48 and its associated parts in a released position. The supports 3l and 32 are L-shaped in cross-section an-d have flanges 5u and 5l integral therewith. The flange 5G holds the upper portion of wedge 48 in position (Fig. 3), while the ange 5| is adapted to slide in a suitable groove 52, which groove is cut in the side of wedge 48, and to hold the wedge in the proper position with relation to the support at all times. Secured to the end of wedge 48 is an angle member 53 by any suitable means such as nails or screws 54. A rod 55 has one end pivotally secured to the outstanding leg of angle 53, and the central portion of said rod is slidably mounted in the outstanding leg of a second angle member 55 which is secured to the interior of L-shaped support 3| by any suitable means such as welding.

The left-hand end of rod 55, as shown in Figure 6, is bent substantially at right angles and penetrates a slot 57 in the end of support 3|. ln order to normally force the wedge 43 toward the lefthand end of support 3| (Fig. 6), one end of tension spring 58 is secured to angle member 53 and the other end is secured to angle member 56. When the inclined portion 38a of the wedge i8 is not engaging one of the notches 3E! in transverse member I6, the left-hand portion of rod 55, which engages the end of slot 5l, acts as a stop to limit the movement to the left of wedge 43 in Figure 6. (See left-hand portion of Figure 3.)

Suitable blocks 65 and St are secured to the lower side of leaf 3G by any suitable means such as screws 6l and 68. These blocks not only conceal the ends of supports 3| and 32 but also act as stops against which one may rest ones finger while another finger is being used to engage the end of rod 55 to force wedge 4S to the left in Figure 3 and disengage it from the notch 33 in which it rests in transverse member l5. When the block is pushed to the left enough to clear the member i8 the leaf 34 can be lowered and pushed in the recess 9.8, (Figs. 2 and 5), where it will assume a position similar to the position of leaf 34 in the left-hand end of Figure 3.

A suitable cavity S3 is provided in the lower face of leaf 34 in which one may place the ends of his fingers when it is desired to move the leaf to extended position. When the leaf is pulled to extended position from the position shown in the left-hand portion of Figure 3, the wedge 48 will automatically snap into one of the notches 3l! slightly before the leaf has been raised to the final elevated position. When the wedges enter, the leaf will automatically be raised flush with the top 2l' since the springs 58 normally force the wedges 48 in notches 3) at all times.

The left-hand portion of the table is similar in all respects to the right-hand portion which has been just described, and similar reference characters will apply to like parts with prime notations added.

Figures '7 to 13 inclusive show another modified form of the invention in which a slightly diiferent type of support for the extension leaf 34 is used. In this form, extension leaf 34 is secured on top of supports i5 and 76 by any suitable means such as screws l and i9 respectively. These supports are slidaoly mounted in suitable notches disposed in transverse member |6 and the extreme lefthand portions of these members are slidably mounted in similar notches disposed in transverse member 8), said transverse member 80 having its ends secured to the longitudinal members l? and |8. Each of the members 'l5 and 'I6 has a pin 3| in the left-hand end thereof which is so located that it will engage the side of member Bil when the extension leaf 34 has been pulled to its extreme left-hand position.l These pins will prevent any appreciable clearancefromy occurring between the right-hand end of tabletop and the left-hand end of the extension leaf 34.

The left-hand ends of these members and 15 aiso have an enlarged portion 82 on the lower side thereof which serves to raise the left-hand eno'. ci' each support l5 and 75 up to a horizontal' position when the leaf 34 is in an extended .position.

A suitable groove 83 is cut in the lower side' of these supports in which is adapted to fit a tongue Eli which is integral with the upper side of wedge |35, (Fig. 13). It is seen that by providing a tongue of this type (Fig. 13), that when it engages a groove 33 that the wedge 85 cannot become disengaged from the groove except by sliding out the right-hand end oi' the groove as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Wedge 8E, which is identical to wedge 85, is disposed in the lower side of support i6 and each of these wedges has a beveled surface 33 on the leading edge thereof which is adapted to engage the notches 33 which are cut in the upper end of transverse support I6 when the table leaf 34 is in extended position.

A transverse rod 89 is adapted to penetrate the wedges 85 and 85, and coniined to the central portion of rod 85 (Fig. l2), is a U-shaped bracket Sil which has downwardly extending portions 9| with slots 92 therein which slots are penetrated by the rod 89. The collars 93 are xedly secured on the rod 39 for confining the U-shaped bracket 9@ in its proper position. Secured to member 9@ as at 35i, is a member |35 which extends to the right (Fig. 7) and is slidably mounted in lthe transverse member i3 (Fig. 11). A suitable button 96 is secured on the end of rod 95 manipulating the U-shaped bracket which engages rod 89.

Each of these wedges S5 and 85 is secured to one end of a tension spring 38, said tension spring 93 having its other end secured to the trans-'i verse member I6. These tension springs normally force the wedges 35 and 36 to the right in the drawings and causes the wedges to act principally in the same manner as the wedges i5 in Figure except that Vthe tension springs in this particu-f' for that rod 89 and wedges 85 and 86 will also be pushed to the left thereby causing the beveled portions 88 of the wedges to be disengaged from the notches 30 in the member I6. When this is done, the table leaf 34 and its associated parts may be lowered and placed in a closed position as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 14 shows a support very similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, but it should be noted that this is U-shaped in cross-section instead of L-shaped. This support has flanges |0| and |02 which are adapted to engage suitable grooves |03 disposed in opposite sides of wedge |04. Wedge |04 has beveled surface |0411 and operates in the same manner as wedge 48 and has an angle member |05 secured thereto by any suitable means such as nails or screws |06. Pivotally secured to the outstanding leg of angle member |05 is a rod |01 which has its central portion slidably mounted in a second angle member |08, said angle member |08 being secured to the interior of support |00 by any suitable means such as rivets |09. The right-hand end of rod |01 is bent substantially at right angles and penetrates the slot ||0 in the side of the support.

A tension spring has one end thereof secured to the angle member |05 and the other end of the spring is secured to the angle member |08. This causes the wedge |04 to be pulled to the right at all times and also causes the wedge |04 to engage the notches 30 when the leaf is in extended position. It is seen that the method of releasing the block |04 from the notches 30, is similar in all respects to the method of releasing the wedge 48. By providing the inturned flanges |0| and |02, a more stable support is provided for the wedge |04 as well as presenting a slightly more finished appearance, although it has been found in the cost of construction, that the form shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, is preferable from a manufacturing standpoint due to the simplicity of construction and cost of material.

When the extensible leaves are pulled to extended position and before they are elevated, the leading ends of the blocks 48, 85 or |04, as the case may be, are pulled .against the frame of the table, and when the extension leaf is elevated, the blocks will move into position and exert a wedging action to hold the extension leaf in the same plane as the table top. It should be noted that as the blocks force the slides against the lower surface of the table top that this results in causing the extension leaf and top to be in the same plane, as it is also evident that shouldeither the top or the extension leaf be warped that there would be still an alignment of the meeting edges of the top and leaf to cause all portions of the leaf and the top to be in the same plane. This would not be true if the upward movement of the slides were limited by means other than having the slides t against the lower surface of the table top.

In the drawings and specication there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

In a refectory table having a frame and a top secured to the top of the frame in spaced relation to the top of the frame and providing at each outer edge .a space for the nesting of leaves, a pair of slides secured to the lower side of each leaf, and having sliding movement in the frame, the top edges of the frame having notches therein for reception of the slides, each slide comprising a piece of sheet metal bent to form a top and a pair of sides, the lower edge of one side portion being bent inwardly, a wedge-shaped block member mounted for sliding movement in each of said slides below the top thereof and between said sides, said wedge-shaped member having a groove in one side thereof into which the said inturned lower edge of one of said side portions is adapted to project, one of the side portions of each of said slides having a bracket secured to the inner surface thereof, a tension spring having one end secured to the bracket and having its other end secured to said block for normally urging said block between the slide and the frame when the leaves are extended, one of the sidewalls of each of said slides having a slottherein, a rod secured to said block and slidably penetrating said bracket and being bent laterally .and penetrating said slot where its end can be engaged to push said block inwardly to permit lowering of the leaf.

ALFRED I-I. HOLLAND. ROBERT A. HOLLAND. 

